Tiltable support for umbrellas



Jan. 5, 1965 s. N. SMALL 3,164,160

TILTABLE SUPPORT FOR UMBRELLAS Filed Oct. 6. 1961 fl ;7 -Z A 5 /2 i4 L'i L gum 4; 75 /5 g INVENTOR. S/IMUCL N. SMALL HTTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,164,160 TILTABLE SUPPORT FOR UMBRELLAS Samuel N. Smail, VaileyStream, N.Y., assignor to Alired G. Cohen and Paul Weiss, both ofFlushing, FLY. Filed 0st. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 143,373 4 Claims. (ill.135-46) This invention relates to umbrellas and, particularly, to theprovision of means for supporting an umbrella in sevenal tiltedpositions in connection with a support. More particularly, the inventiondeals with a tiltable means employing a spring for directly coupling theumbrella post with the support and for keying and retaining the umbrellapost in alined, as well as the several tilted positions with respect tothe support.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through the upper portion of a support andthe lower portion of an umbrella post show ing the tilting means inelevation and in a tilted position with respect to the support.

FIG. 2 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the umbrella post in thenon-tilted position on the support.

FIG. 2A is a dot-dash showing of a portion of an umbrella top and partof the post on a reduced scale and with the umbrella top in upright ornon-tilted position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section on the offset line 44 of FIG. 2.

This application constitutes a continuation-in-part of the structuredisclosed in a prior application filed by me May 19, 1961, Serial Number111,321.

While the structure forming the subject matter of this application isadapted for use in conjunction with umbrellas of various sizes, it isadaptable and especially desirable for use in connection with medium orsmaller types of umbrellas, such as commonly used in connection withchairs and like supports for producing shade for a single individual.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing part of a tubular support 10, or what mightbe regarded as the end portion of such a support. The lower end of thesupport will have suitable means for mounting the same in connectionwith a chair or the like. Fixed in the upper end of the support 10 is akey collar or bushing 11, having a plurality of rounded sockets 12, noteFIGS. 3 and 4. At 13 are shown the ribs dividing the sockets. Adjacentsurfaces of the ribs 13 of each socket 12 form restricted passagescontrolling access to the sockets 12.

At 14 I have shown one of my improved tilting elements, comprising a rod15 having, at its upper end, an enlarged head 16 suitably fixed in thelower end of the post 17 of an umbrella. In FIG. 2A of the drawing, asmall portion of the post 17 is indicated in dot-dash lines and, in saidfigure, part of the umbrella top is indicated in dot-dash lines at 18with the umbrella top in open position. Between the head 16 and rod 15,the element includes a rounded bearing portion 19 which normally fitssnugly within the ribs 13 when the device is in the position. shown inFIG. 2 in provding a sturdy coupling of the umbrella with the support16, note FIG. 4. Between the beaning portion 19 and the head 16 is acollar 20 which seats upon the key collar or brushing 11 when the partsare in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The rod of the element 14 has an aperture 21, with 3,164,1li0 PatentedJan. 5, 1965 which the upper end of a coil spring 22 is coupled, theother or lower end of the spring being coupled with a transverse pin orthe like 23 fixed to the support. The element 14 has, adjacent theportion 19, a taperedkeypart 24 which joins the rod in'a reduced neckportion 25. The diameter of the neckportion 25 is suchgas to clear therestricted passage between the ribs 13 in placing the tapered key partin the sockets 12. This restricted passagebetween the ribs also servesin definitely keying the key part 24 in each of the sockets. It will beseen that the spring provides the sole means of coupling the umbrellawith the support 19, the spring 22 being tensioned to support theumbrella or the post 17 in its normal upright position, as indicated inFIG. 2, and, in moving the umbrella to a tilted position, the operatorraises the umbrella or the post 17 sufficiently to pass the neck 25through the reduced passage of the ribs 13 to position the key part 24in one of the sockets 12. This moves the post 17 into tilted position.Upon releasing the upward pull on the post 17, the spring 22 will movethe key part 24 downwardly into firm keyed position in the socket 12, asseen in FIG. 3. When in this position, the post 17 is definitelyretained against shifting movement,

even in the presence of strong winds.

, From time to time, the umbrella can be shifted from socket to socketin bringing the umbrella into proper relationship to the chair orsupport in shading the occupant of the chair. In returning the umbrellato the position shown in FIG. 2, all that is essential is for theoperator to raise the position slightly and then swing the umbrella orpost 17 into a central position on the support; whereupon, the spring 22will automatically draw the bearing portion 19 downwardly into positionbetween the ribs 13. This last operation is, of course, further assistedby the weight of the umbrella. In addition to the engagement of thebearing portion 19 with the ribs, tensional seating of the collar 20upon the bushing 11 further aids in maintaining the umbrella or the post17 thereof in alined position with the support 10, as seen in FIG. 2 ofthe drawing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In tiltable umbrellas having an umbrella post, a tubular supporthaving at its end a key bushing, including a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced sockets, a tilting element fixed to the post,said element having a rod extending into the support through saidbushing, a spring coupled with the rod and the support, said springurging said post in the direction of said support in securing theumbrella post to the support, said element including means normallyseating on and arranged in said bushing in support of the post in alinedposition with the support, key means on the rod of said element adaptedto be positioned in one of said sockets in retaining the umbrella postin tilted position with respect to the support, said bushing includingcircumferentially spaced ribs forming restricted passages for access tosaid sockets, and the rod of said element having a reduced neck of adiameter to pass through the restricted passages of said sockets incoupling the element with said sockets.

2. In tiltable umbrellas having an umbrella post, a tubular supporthaving at its end a key bushing, including a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced sockets, a tilting element fixed to andprojecting beyond the post, said element having a rod extending into thepost through said bushing, aspring coupled with the rod and the support,said spring urging said post in the direction of said support insecuring the umbrella post to the support, said,

element including means normally seating on and arranged in said bushingin support of the post in alined position with the support, key means onthe rod of said element adapted to be positioned in one of said socketseluding a tubular post, a tubular support in connection with which thepost is adapted to be supported in alined and tiltable positions, atilting element coupled with the post, said element including 'a rodextending into said support,.a spring coupled with the rod of saidelement and the tubular support forming the sole means of establishingcoupling engagement of the post with the support, the support includinga bushing having a key socket including a restricted passage, the rod ofsaid element having means facilitating insertion of the rod through therestricted passage into said socket, and means on the rod engaging thesocket of the bushing in retention of the post against movement in saidbushing and said support When the post is in tilted position.

4. In a tiltab le umbrella of the character defined, a support, anumbrella post tiltaoly coupled with said support, the support having aplurality of circumferentially spaced sockets bordered by ribs, saidribs defining therebetween restricted openings for access to saidsockets, a rod projecting from the post, said rod having an end portionarranged at all times Within said support, said rod having meanspassable through the restricted openings of each of said sockets toposition the rod in any one of the sockets, said rod having key meansfitting the socket in which the rod is arranged to retain the postagainst displacement from said socket, and a spring coupled with saidend portion of the rod and the support in retaining the rod in a socketand urging said post in the direction or" said support,

References (Ii-ted by the Examiner UN ITED STATES PATENTS 809,977 1/06OBrien. 896,445 8/08 Fredericks. 2,742,116 6/56 Minnis.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,151,258 8/57 France.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

D. J. STOCKING, Examiner.

2. IN TILTABLE UMBRELLAS HAVING AN UMBRELLA POST, A TUBULAR SUPPORTHAVING AT ITS END A KEY BUSHING, INCLUDING A PLURALITY OFCIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED SOCKETS, A TILTING ELEMENT FIXED TO ANDPROJECTING BEYOND THE POST, SAID ELEMENT HAVING A ROD EXTENDING INTO THEPOST THROUGH SAID BUSHING, A SPRING COUPLED WITH THE ROD AND THESUPPORT, SAID SPRING URGING SAID POST IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID SUPPORTIN SECURING THE UMBRELLA POST TO THE SUPPORT, SAID ELEMENT INCLUDINGMEANS NORMALLY SEATING ON AND ARRANGED IN SAID BUSHING IN SUPPORT OF THEPOST IN ALINED POSITION WITH THE SUPPORT, KEY MEANS ON THE ROD OF SAIDELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED IN ONE OF SAID SOCKETS IN SUPPORT OFTHE UMBRELLA POST IN TILTED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE SUPPORT, ANDEACH OF THE SOCKETS HAVING MEANS ENGAGING THE ROD OF SAID ELEMENT WHENSUPPORTED THERERIN TO RETAIN THE POST IN TILTED POSITION.